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Monaco China relations
20/08/2014

Monaco and China continue to develop their ties with the opening of Salon Monaco in Beijing.

On the opening of the Summer Youth Olympic Games last weekend in Nanjing, China, the Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a warm welcome to Prince Albert II at the event’s opening ceremony.

President Xi congratulated Prince Albert on his work in developing and supporting the Olympic movement and ideals as a member of the International Olympic Committee. The President went on the express his wish that the existing ties between China and Monaco continue to strengthen with increasing cooperation between the two states with increasing personal and cultural exchanges in the coming years. The forthcoming occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic links being established in 2015 should be taken as an opportunity to further advance the already strong relations.

President Xi stated that as China continued to pursue its rapid economic development it has not lost sight of the need to pursue sustainable development, to maintain and preserve its ecology. However, there remained room for improvement and China still needed to promote conservation and a better understanding of ecology in the development of its rapidly expanding cities and urban areas.

Prince Albert responded by praising the spirit and organisation of the Nanjing Games and took the opportunity to wish the Youth Olympics every success over the coming days. The Prince shared the President’s views for a sustainable future and closer cooperation between China and Monaco to develop an environmentally friendly economy and stronger relations in the fields of technology, telecommunications and financial services; already important areas of Monaco’s economy. He also called on the young people of Monaco to make greater efforts to learn Chinese and develop a greater understanding of Chinese culture to make closer ties between the two nations.

Following the meeting with President Xi Jinping, Prince Albert left for Beijing to inaugurate the Salon Monaco at the heart of Park View Green, Beijing. The opening was also attended by the vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Chao, together with the Monaco ambassador to China, Mrs Catherine Fautrier.

In his address to the distinguished guests Prince Albert highlighted the already cordial relations enjoyed between Monaco and China and expressed his wish to see closer cooperation and stronger bonds in the future, which it is expected the Salon Monaco will provide.

The objective of the Salon Monaco is to further raise the profile of Monaco and includes the offices of the Honorary Consul of Monaco, as well as accommodation for exhibitions, conferences, meetings and an auditorium with accommodation for 150 delegates.